Improvement in sewing-machines



J. E. A. GIBBS.

H Sewing Machine.

Patented Jan. 20, 1857.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES E. A. GIBBS, or MILL'POINT, VIRGINIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEWING-MACHINES.-

Specification forming part of Letttrs Patent No. 16.434, datedJanuaryQO, 1857.

To all 107mm. it m Mime/It.-

Be it known that I, J AMES E. A. GIBBs, of.

Mill Point, in the county of Pocahontas and the State of Virginia, haveinvented certain a detail of the adjustable needle-guide.

The nature of my invention consists in so arranging and constructing themachine as to form the chain-stitch on astationary hook for the purposeof simplifying the mechanism of the whole machine.

To enable others to use and to construct my machine, I now proceed todescribe it.

A is a frame or body of the machine, carrying on its lateral sidesbearings for the main shafts B and 0, giving the proper motion tothe'mechanism operating the machine. The shafts are placed in suitablejournals or sleeves, located at c-ancl'b, as shown in the annexeddrawings The shaft B, on leaving the sleeve 1), is bent into a smallcrank, c, carrying the cam F, whence it sweeps circularly to the handleE, forming such an angle as to cause the cam to strike the roller G whenthe handle is in its descending motion, thus increasing the stability ofthe machine. The cam F is secured to a metallic brace that forms boththe connecting-rod with the arm H of the shaft 0 and journal of thesmall crank c. The shaft 0 extends longitudinally throughout the wholelength of the upper structure of the frame, and is bent into angles'forconnecting with I the brace at the rear and with the needle-head Theneedle-head is constructed of wood, brass,

or any other suitable material, and carries the needle and the feeder orfeeding-hook, both of which are securely fastened to its front side. Ithas on its under side a longitudinal groove or bore, through which thehorizontally-bent rocking shaft runs loosely, permitting the.

so inclined that its center of gravity will be thrown out of aperpendicular line through the rockingshaft. On the other and oppositeside of the needle-head is a stop adjustableby means of a screw, L,limiting the course of the needle in relation with the rocking shaft,thus regulating the length of the stitches.

The pedestal of the frame bears in front the cloth-table, which isslotted, so as to allow a free passage and play of the needle, andisfurnished with a stationaryhook, M, screwed or otherwise permanentlyattached in such a position as to catch the thread from the needle whenthe latter is guided thereto by aprojecting guide, N, for the purpose offorming the loop in the manner hereinafter described.

The contrivance for holding and feeding the cloth upon the tableconsists in a clamp pivotedat O, and pressing down on the table byinserting between itself and the capital of the frame a spiral spring orits equivalent, unless its action is relieved by exerting a pressureupon the tail-piece and roller G of the clamp,- which is done by thecam, F, attached to the main crank, operating the machine atthe momentthe feeding is required.

' The description of the machine is completed by mentioning the armcarrying the bobbin,

which has a spiral spring wound around it and a nut for the purpose ofregulating the intensity of friction which the bobbin must offer forproperly adjusted in the cross-bar guides, the' stop regulated so as tolimit the oscillation of the needle up to a determined point, the threadconducted through the carrier and the eye R to the needle, and, finally,the whole machine being clamped to the edge of a'table, so that 'thecrank-motion be free from any intervening obstacle, it will be ready foroperating in the following manner: The handle E, on being turned in thedirection of the arrows, imparts to the rocking shaft and needle-head avibrating motion, so that the said needle-head will ascend laterallywhen the handle is turned in the upward direction, and descend inreturning the same path it followed up. \Vhen the handle shall havepassed the dead-point and acafter passing through the cloth, is againguided upon an inclined plane of thestationary crocl1ethook, the clothforming the pivoting-point of the needle, causing it to oscillate withinsuch limits it is adjusted for. The loop is formed by the needle passingthe thread over the ore Chet-point, where it remains until the needle,in its next downward motion, passes through the loop and draws it offthe hook. The performance of this part of the work is insured by givingto the needle a slight curve, the thread forming its chord. Theloopbeing thus formed, the handle will now bring its cam in contact with theroller of the tail-piece of the clamp, causing its elevation in front.During the time the clamp is raised from the cloth-table the rigidfeeding-hook propels the cloth a single step, which movement is impartedto it by the rocker before resuming its upward motion. By thisarrangement it will be seen the needle does not propel the cloth. Thestitches are therefore more regular, and the needle not liable to break.The needle-head will draw tight the loop by its upward motion and repeatthe now-described operation with every revolution of the crank.

Having now fully described my improvement, what I claim as my invention,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

Making the chain-stitch with a vibrating needle in combination with astationary hook.

In testimony whereof Ihave signed my name to this specification. beforetwo subscribing witnesses.

JAMES E. A. GIBBS.

Vitnesses:

A. POLLAK, CHAS. EVERETT.

